I just discovered this thread and am immensely enjoying reading about your adventures. I rode with my girlfriend (later wife) two up from Boston to Atlanta back in the early 80's so this brings back some great memories...we diverted over to the Blue Ridge Parkway, came around a bend and there were 6 or 8 wild turkeys in the road that scattered immediately - good times! Keep posting as we're enjoying the notes and the pictures, and do get that back tire addressed as soon as possible. Safe travels and greetings from Houston, Texas!

So we are now here in Sioux falls. The repair/tire shop that internet said would be open on Sundays wasnt. So we just spent yesterday shifting from a quite expensive hell-hole type of motel to what seems like a castle in comparison. The first place had all kinds of shady people of different body constitutions limping around smelling of different substances.. The floor was covered by brown, slightly wet fluffy carpet, and i dont even know if that was the original colour... The shower was cracked so it had all kinds of inventive repair of ducktape.

But in the afternoon we made our way down to the falls. It took some time though, as we stayed in each bar on the way down to try new beers. Surprisingly good selection in a otherwise trashy town it seems.

Then on the way back we met up with a friend of Amanda and his crew as they are on s different kind of tour -a moving art installation -"the truth booth", were people are videod speaking the truth. So far they have been in Afghanistan, south africa and now they are in the process of completing all of the united states...

Today we have hopes to get the tire done, as its monday!

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After calling all around Sioux Falls, Amanda finds a place that should have a fitting tire just about 10 mins away. We go to "Competition cycles", leave the bike and head for breakfast nearby.. I have a delicious tuna melt and then we go back to see if theres any progress with bike... Seems like a trusthworthy old mechanic is just balancing the wheel as we return. New Shinko tire, balancing, some lube paste on the rear drive splines, and the trips first top up of oil, and we are on our way. 217 dollars must be concidered ok, as its only about 3 hrs since we first called them... The mechanic claims to the "goldwing guy" around town, but his claims are backed up by an identical 79 GL with vetter fairing and a 1100 also sitting around the garage..

Riding today was tough, mostly due to heavy crosswinds. It was like a never ending wrestling match with the bike... Crossing the Missouri River I felt the front wheel jumping one meter to the side in one leap! But it was also a very beautiful ride through south dakota.

Crossing the great plains is a humbling experience. Its just so huge! Gas stations were 100 miles apart so i got a little nervous there.

Out in the middle of nowhere after one hour without traffic, all of a sudden theres a guy with a stop sign next to the road... Ok some road work ahead and we have to wait for a pilot car to lead us through.. Then a car comes after us in line. The guy jumps out and starts to talk to us. Hes very nice and it turns out he has a finnish wife so he has been to sweden many times. We speak about the trip and he gives us his business card, because he wants to now where we will end up. Amanda sees his card and says "wait a minute... Youre from the town Gary? Where we tried to fill gas before we almost stranded the other day?" And the guy goes: yeah sure! I pump gas in Gary!

So this actually was the guy that closed his station early when we were trying to get gas the other day, so that we almost ran out of it!

In that way its a small country...,

The rest of the ride was beautiful and we reached our motel at sunset... Evening was spent with beer, grilled cheese, sallad, and then a late evening dip in the motel pool!

Tomorrow we will enter the Badlands, and I guess it will be even more scenic then!

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Last edited by mr west on Tue Aug 23, 2016 2:16 am, edited 2 times in total.

Cross country trips are amazing adventures, and you are having a doozy !! Thanks for the pics. If you get to Rapid City, South Dakota and need anything, we have a member there that I'm sure would be available. Stay safe !

83 GL 1100 bagger 78 GL 1000 nakedALL WE WANT TO DO IS DRINK OUR ESPRESSO, RIDE OUR MACHINES, AND NOT BE HASSLED BY THE MANOwning a motorcycle is not a matter of life or death. It's much more important than that."Don't sweat the little things, guys, take care and appreciate all that you have around you!" - FewmanNGWclub on Facebook

Planning your trip West, I recommend travelling highway 20 across the northern part of washington. At the western end, tour the San Juan islands. Coming this far, don't give in to cutting south across the state. You won't regret traveling the northern route, we call it the Washington Alps.

Yeah, what you reccomend might just be one of the most beautiful places on earth.... But as i need to be in vegas 27:th theres just no time. The other day I spoke with my aunt there on the phone and if I want to see her I need time for that too.

Good news is that Amandas parents in LA seem ti have an empty garage...Its a quite tempting proposition to leave the bike there and come back for more touring later...

"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017 1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike 1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bikeand a whole garage full of possibilities!!Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!

The sunflower picture...very nice. I always have to go north to see that and it's always a great surprise to round a curve and see a field of sunflowers all turning to catch the sun. thanks for sharing.

The craftsman is proud of what he has made, and cherishes it, while the consumer discards things that are perfectly serviceable in his restless pursuit of the new." Richard Sennett as quoted by Matthew B. Crawford in Shop Class as Soulcraft

[/img]Working on your own motorcycle is half of the fun...it's also half of the problem.

brokentoe wrote:The sunflower picture...very nice. I always have to go north to see that and it's always a great surprise to round a curve and see a field of sunflowers all turning to catch the sun. thanks for sharing.

Several times on a couple different trips I have come across a wheat field. A true field of gold. In Washington and Colo. In Colo. the wheat field ran the length of a plain, sitting on a hillside. Combines were harvesting and it was so Americana I had to stop and watch. On the road, the next great surprise is always just around the corner.

83 GL 1100 bagger 78 GL 1000 nakedALL WE WANT TO DO IS DRINK OUR ESPRESSO, RIDE OUR MACHINES, AND NOT BE HASSLED BY THE MANOwning a motorcycle is not a matter of life or death. It's much more important than that."Don't sweat the little things, guys, take care and appreciate all that you have around you!" - FewmanNGWclub on Facebook

Yesterday was a great day! Speaking about surprises around the corner, yesterday there was quite a few times we screamed straight out in our helmets coming over a hill or around a bend, amazed by the sheer beauty of things... Of course the best moments didnt make it in to my camera but they never do anyway..

We went through the badlands and made mount rushmore and the custer state park.. The wildlife loop was also incredible and because we needed to stop all the time, we didnt made it out of there until sundown.. So then we ended up catching on to the iron mountain trail in the dark! That might have been stupid, but it was a cool surrealistic experience with the 360 bends in pitch darkness too...

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